LRA: 24 Gallon or 40 Gallon and Why?

[Markuson]

For what it’s worth, we went with the 40 gallon but haven’t taken delivery yet so I have zero input as far as real world use goes but I’m getting a lot out of this thread. We tow a overland trailer that’s just shy of 4K pounds and went with the 40 for the range while remote and/or off road. We likely won’t see anything serious as far as rock crawling goes so clearance isn’t as important to us as not being concerned about hunting a gas station in unfamiliar areas.

Perfect setup and use fir a 40.

 

[fireball]

Very happy with the 24gal tank, as others have said its nice to have "essentially 2 full tanks" and we get about 8-10mpg towing our off road trailer.

140# of extra weight seemed OK to me. Add another 100# to that and I just felt I'd have to do even more rear suspension mods.

 

[TeCKis300]

For what it’s worth, we went with the 40 gallon but haven’t taken delivery yet so I have zero input as far as real world use goes but I’m getting a lot out of this thread. We tow a overland trailer that’s just shy of 4K pounds and went with the 40 for the range while remote and/or off road. We likely won’t see anything serious as far as rock crawling goes so clearance isn’t as important to us as not being concerned about hunting a gas station in unfamiliar areas.

I assume with the 40-gallon tank, you'll need to go rear armor with swing outs?

As robust as the cruiser is, just be aware that the chassis and axles do have functional limits. The combined weight of tank (~380lbs), rear armor (~350lbs), and towing even a relatively light trailer (520lbs), can quickly consume the perhaps conservative payload ratings (1320lbs). Being all carried behind the rear axle, it will also surpass the 4300lb rear axle rating.

People have exceeded the ratings, including myself due to a much larger trailer, but just putting it out there for your awareness. It's easy to focus on range, but maintaining payload for gear may also matter.

 

[CharlieS]

I have a 12.5 LRA never taken out of the shipping packaging if anyone in driving distance of VT needs one.

I sold my 200 before installing it, and the planned replacement 200 is postponed indefinitely.

 

[Artie]

I assume with the 40-gallon tank, you'll need to go rear armor with swing outs?

As robust as the cruiser is, just be aware that the chassis and axles do have functional limits. The combined weight of tank (~380lbs), rear armor (~350lbs), and towing even a relatively light trailer (520lbs), can quickly consume the perhaps conservative payload ratings (1320lbs). Being all carried behind the rear axle, it will also surpass the 4300lb rear axle rating.

People have done it, including myself with a much larger trailer, but just putting it out there for your awareness. It's easy to focus on range, but maintaining payload for gear may also matter.

I appreciate your point and concern, one of the great things about this forum are the users and your response is a good example of that. Yes, rear swing out. The majority of our gear goes in the trailer, so far I haven’t exceeded 350 pound tongue weight and that’s the trailer fully loaded with everything including drinking water. In our current vehicle inside we carry a small portable generator and some minor gear like boots, camera, and 3 solar panels. We are also upgrading the suspension as well. We tortured ourselves with a spreadsheet, scales, gear allocation, and poured over this site as well as some private messages with owners here and on a couple FB groups before we finally decided on mods. My first stop after break in is the local scales with the LC and camper. If my calculations are correct we should come in under both the rear axle rating and max GVWR. Worst case we rearrange or drop gear. Hopefully we don’t get fat.

 

[Maxwell]

The decision would be much easier if only the price reflected the capacity. Regardless, I will be going with the 24 for the reasons already discussed but primarily the departure angle.

 

[terdrocket]

I have the 40 and love it. If I only want to put 25 gallons in the aux for around town travel, no problem. If I am going on a trip, I can roll with over 60 gallons total to limit time wasting stops.
I love that I regularly can go two and a half times longer between fill ups than I used to.

 

[18Cruiser]

I have the 40 and love it. If I only want to put 25 gallons in the aux for around town travel, no problem. If I am going on a trip, I can roll with over 60 gallons total to limit time wasting stops.
I love that I regularly can go two and a half times longer between fill ups than I used to.

I have a wife and daughter, stops are rarely about needing fuel. That being said, I just have the stock tank and it is more than sufficient between stops on the highway.

 

[TeCKis300]

I have a wife and daughter, stops are rarely about needing fuel. That being said, I just have the stock tank and it is more than sufficient between stops on the highway.

Would it be correct to assume your rig is largely stock?

Some have shared their rigs get pretty fantastic range. 17MPG Hwy MPG rated from the factory, combined with a 20-22 gallon usable tank does put range at a solid 350+ miles.

Modded, to our own detriment, can reduce that precipitously. It's a slippery slope of impacts to what was once a finely dialed factory configuration

 

[18Cruiser]

Would it be correct to assume your rig is largely stock?

Some have shared their rigs get pretty fantastic range. 17MPG Hwy MPG rated from the factory, combined with a 20-22 gallon usable tank does put range at a solid 350+ miles.

Modded, to our own detriment, can reduce that precipitously. It's a slippery slope of impacts to what was once a finely dialed factory configuration

Mine is "slightly and lightly modified". It has 2 1/2" BP51 lift with Nitto Terra 34" tires, with a few other goodies. Rear ARB locker, twin compressor and aluminum Bud built skids for good measure.

See I have boys as well that like to camp, hunt and go to the lake. It's a do all vehicle for a fam of five. Has to serve duty as road warrior for family vacations, camping/hunting vehicle and daily driver for me. I would call it a cross over if that name wasn't already taken and didn't have "mall crawler" overtones.

 

[TeCKis300]

Mine is "slightly and lightly modified". It has 2 1/2" BP51 lift with Nitto Terra 34" tires, with a few other goodies. Rear ARB locker, twin compressor and aluminum Bud built skids for good measure.

See I have boys as well that like to camp, hunt and go to the lake. It's a do all vehicle for a fam of five. Has to serve duty as road warrior for family vacations, camping/hunting vehicle and daily driver for me. I would call it a cross over if that name wasn't already taken and didn't have "mall crawler" overtones.

Hehehe, lightly modified indeed. Nice setup!

 

[Chrisleduc1]

I love my 40. At 8,000 lbs, 150 lbs sloshing near the axle is less than negligible. It’s not lower than my diff... I added an aux line and valve so that I can divert fuel over for those of you that have the 12 or 24 and the run out

 

[radman]

I added an aux line and valve so that I can divert fuel over for those of you that have the 12 or 24 and the run out

did you ever post up a parts list or more pictures of this mod?

this is all i was able to find:

Builds - Mountain Goat '18LX build thread

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Its funny, but the price thing has been my primary deterrent so far. The prices jumped from $1795 to like $2295, which I hope is due to upgraded parts and not just a demand response. The fact that the price is the same for a 12 gallon and a 40 is the truly frustrating part. If I could get the 12 gallon for $2000 installed, it would already be done. As it is, I'm looking at $3000 for and extra 12 gallons. Going to a 24 or 40 requires a new rear bumper and swing out, so tack on another $3000 and probably another $1000 to install the bumper. At that point we're over $7000 all-in. Closer to $8500 if you go with the Slee bumper. Now with all that additional weight and my other mods, a regear is probably in order, so call that another $2500 installed... but while your in there better go ahead and do the lockers, so that's another $2500 installed.

All of sudden my extra 24 or 40 gallons of fuel just cost me upwards of $12k!

 

[radman]

The prices jumped from $1795 to like $2295

Not to kick you in the nuts, but I bought last year at "black Friday" pricing for $1595. I also wonder what the price increase is for...

 

[Markuson]

I love my 40. At 8,000 lbs, 150 lbs sloshing near the axle is less than negligible. It’s not lower than my diff... I added an aux line and valve so that I can divert fuel over for those of you that have the 12 or 24 and the run out

I would love to see what you did to divert to an external tank. That’s something I’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t gotten around to it.

Maybe post some info & photos?

 

[terdrocket]

I have a wife and daughter, stops are rarely about needing fuel. That being said, I just have the stock tank and it is more than sufficient between stops on the highway.

Its 6.5 to 7.5 hours from Jax FL to Boone NC, depending on traffic, speed and stops.
If I leave by 5am, I can get there by lunch.
With the stock tank, on 34's, rear swing out bumper, family of 5 and luggage for a week and a great dane, that is 2 stops for fill ups. (If I get higher than 11.5mpg, its because I'm on a downhill section.)
With the aux tank, that is 0 stops for fill ups and therefore usually zero stops at all, due to everyone being asleep 95% of the ride from being woken so early.
I-95 and I-26 suck in South Carolina. The earlier I get through it, the less traffic and accidents I will encounter.
My aux tank fill this purpose perfectly.

 

[Eric Sarjeant]

Its funny, but the price thing has been my primary deterrent so far. The prices jumped from $1795 to like $2295, which I hope is due to upgraded parts and not just a demand response.

The $100 or so hike was probably just aligning with market demand and cost of expanding the business, negligible and acceptable. The other $300ish is freight. Keep in mind, these are not coming in a cardboard box on a FedEx truck.

 

[SubZero58]

I have a 12.5 LRA never taken out of the shipping packaging if anyone in driving distance of VT needs one.

I sold my 200 before installing it, and the planned replacement 200 is postponed indefinitely.

I have a 12.5 LRA never taken out of the shipping packaging if anyone in driving distance of VT needs one.

I sold my 200 before installing it, and the planned replacement 200 is postponed indefinitely.

Im interested, just PM'd you

 

[CharlieS]

Apologies, but I took it off the market. I'm putting it on my new to me '16. The guys at Long Range America are great to work with, I'd highly recommend them.